Word Study
fling
CIDE DICTIONARY
fling, v. t. [OE. flingen, flengen, to rush, hurl; cf. Icel. flengia to whip, ride furiously, OSw. flenga to strike, Sw. flänga to romp, Dan. flenge to slash.].
- To cast, send, to throw from the hand; to hurl; to dart; to emit with violence as if thrown from the hand; as, to fing a stone into the pond. [1913 Webster]"'T is Fate that flings the dice: and, as she flings,
Of kings makes peasants, and of peasants kings." [1913 Webster]"He . . . like Jove, his lighting flung." [1913 Webster]"I know thy generous temper well.
Fling but the appearance of dishonor on it,
It straight takes fire." [1913 Webster] - To shed forth; to emit; to scatter. [1913 Webster]"The sun begins to fling
His flaring beams." [1913 Webster]"Every beam new transient colors flings." [1913 Webster] - To throw; to hurl; to throw off or down; to prostrate; hence, to baffle; to defeat; as, to fling a party in litigation. [1913 Webster]"His horse started, flung him, and fell upon him." [1913 Webster]"Cromwell, I charge thee, fling away ambition.""This question so flung down before the guests, . . .
Was handed over by consent of all
To me who had not spoken."
fling, v. i.
- To throw; to wince; to flounce; as, the horse began to kick and fling. [1913 Webster]
- To cast in the teeth; to utter abusive language; to sneer; as, the scold began to flout and fling. [1913 Webster]
- To throw one's self in a violent or hasty manner; to rush or spring with violence or haste. [1913 Webster]"And crop-full, out of doors he flings." [1913 Webster]"I flung closer to his breast,
As sword that, after battle, flings to sheath." [1913 Webster]
fling, n.
- A cast from the hand; a throw; also, a flounce; a kick; as, the fling of a horse. [1913 Webster]
- A severe or contemptuous remark; an expression of sarcastic scorn; a gibe; a sarcasm. [1913 Webster]"I, who love to have a fling,
Both at senate house and king." [1913 Webster] - A kind of dance; as, the Highland fling. [1913 Webster]
- A trifing matter; an object of contempt. [1913 Webster]"England were but a fling
Save for the crooked stick and the gray goose wing." [1913 Webster] - a short period during which one indulges one's wishes, whims, or desires in an unrestrained manner. [PJC]
- a love affair. [PJC]
- a casual or brief attempt to accomplish something. [PJC]
- a period during which one tries a new activity; as, he took a fling at playing tennis. [PJC]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
fling, v. & n.
--v. (past and past part. flung)
1 tr. throw or hurl (an object) forcefully.
2 refl. a (usu. foll. by into) rush headlong (into a person's arms, a train, etc.). b (usu. foll. by into) embark wholeheartedly (on an enterprise). c (usu. foll. by on) throw (oneself) on a person's mercy etc.
3 tr. utter (words) forcefully.
4 tr. (usu. foll. by out) suddenly spread (the arms).
5 tr. (foll. by on, off) put on or take off (clothes) carelessly or rapidly.
6 intr. go angrily or violently; rush (flung out of the room).
7 tr. put or send suddenly or violently (was flung into jail).
8 tr. (foll. by away) discard or put aside thoughtlessly or rashly (flung away their reputation).
9 intr. (usu. foll. by out) (of a horse etc.) kick and plunge.
10 tr. archaic send, emit (sound, light, smell).
--n.
1 an act or instance of flinging; a throw; a plunge.
2 a spell of indulgence or wild behaviour (he's had his fling).
3 an impetuous, whirling Scottish dance, esp. the Highland fling.
--v. (past and past part. flung)
1 tr. throw or hurl (an object) forcefully.
2 refl. a (usu. foll. by into) rush headlong (into a person's arms, a train, etc.). b (usu. foll. by into) embark wholeheartedly (on an enterprise). c (usu. foll. by on) throw (oneself) on a person's mercy etc.
3 tr. utter (words) forcefully.
4 tr. (usu. foll. by out) suddenly spread (the arms).
5 tr. (foll. by on, off) put on or take off (clothes) carelessly or rapidly.
6 intr. go angrily or violently; rush (flung out of the room).
7 tr. put or send suddenly or violently (was flung into jail).
8 tr. (foll. by away) discard or put aside thoughtlessly or rashly (flung away their reputation).
9 intr. (usu. foll. by out) (of a horse etc.) kick and plunge.
10 tr. archaic send, emit (sound, light, smell).
--n.
1 an act or instance of flinging; a throw; a plunge.
2 a spell of indulgence or wild behaviour (he's had his fling).
3 an impetuous, whirling Scottish dance, esp. the Highland fling.
Idiom
have a fling at
1 make an attempt at.
2 jeer at.
1 make an attempt at.
2 jeer at.
Derivative
flinger n.
Etymology
ME, perh. f. ON
THESAURUS
fling
approach, assay, attempt, bash, bat, bender, bid, binge, boil, bolt, bout, bowl, bung, bust, career, carousal, carouse, cast, cast at, catapult, celebration, change of pace, change-up, charge, chase, chuck, chuck at, chunk, clap, crack, curve, dart, dash, debauch, downcurve, drinking bout, effort, endeavor, escapade, essay, experiment, fastball, fire, fire at, fling at, flip, fork, forward pass, gambit, gamble, go, haste, hasten, heave, heave at, hie, hump, hump it, hurl, hurl against, hurl at, hurry, hurtle, incurve, indulgence, jerk, knuckleball, lance, lark, lash, lateral, lateral pass, launch, let fly, let fly at, lick, lob, make haste, move, offer, orgy, outcurve, party, pass, peg, pelt, pitch, pitchfork, plank, plop, ploy, plump, plunk, pop, post, propel, put, put the shot, race, rampage, randan, randy, revel, risk, rush, scamper, scoot, scour, scramble, screwball, scud, scurry, scuttle, send, serve, service, shoot, shot, shot-put, shy, shy at, sinker, skedaddle, slap, slider, sling, sling at, snap, spitball, spitter, splurge, spree, stab, stagger, step, step on it, stroke, strong bid, tear, tentative, throw, throw at, thrust, tilt, toot, toss, toss at, trial, trial and error, try, undertaking, upcurve, venture, whack, whirl, wingdingROGET THESAURUS
fling
Amusement
N amusement, entertainment, recreation, fun, game, fun and games, diversion, divertissement, reaction, solace, pastime, passetemps, sport, labor of love, pleasure, relaxation, leisure, fun, frolic, merriment, jollity, joviality, jovialness, heyday, laughter, jocosity, jocoseness, drollery, buffoonery, tomfoolery, mummery, pleasantry, wit, quip, quirk, giggle, titter, snigger, snicker, crow, cheer, chuckle, shout, horse laugh, belly laugh, hearty laugh, guffaw, burst of laughter, fit of laughter, shout of laughter, roar of laughter, peal of laughter, cachinnation, Kentish fire, tiger, play, game, game at romps, gambol, romp, prank, antic, rig, lark, spree, skylarking, vagary, monkey trick, gambade, fredaine, escapade, echappee, bout, espieglerie, practical joke, dance, hop, reel, rigadoon, saraband, hornpipe, bolero, ballroom dance, minuet, waltz, polka, fox trot, tango, samba, rhumba, twist, stroll, hustle, cha-cha, fandango, cancan, bayadere, breakdown, cake-walk, cornwallis, break dancing, nautch-girl, shindig, skirtdance, stag dance, Virginia reel, square dance, galop, galopade, jig, Irish jig, fling, strathspey, allemande, gavot, gavotte, tarantella, mazurka, morisco, morris dance, quadrille, country dance, folk dance, cotillon, Sir Roger de Coverley, ballet, ball, bal, bal masque, bal costume, masquerade, Terpsichore, festivity, merrymaking, party, blowout, hullabaloo, hoedown, bat, bum, bust, clambake, donation party, fish fry, jamboree, kantikoy, nautch, randy, squantum, tear, Turnerfest, yule log, fete, festival, gala, ridotto, revels, revelry, reveling, carnival, brawl, saturnalia, high jinks, feast, banquet, regale, symposium, wassail, carouse, carousal, jollification, junket, wake, Irish wake, picnic, fete champetre, regatta, field day, treat, round of pleasures, dissipation, a short life and a merry one, racketing, holiday making, rejoicing, jubilee, bonfire, fireworks, feu-de-joie, firecracker, holiday, gala day, red letter day, play day, high days and holidays, high holiday, Bank holiday, May day, Derby day, Saint Monday, Easter Monday, Whit Monday, Bairam, wayz-goos, bean feast, Arbor Day, Declaration Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Memorial Day, Thanksgiving Day, Mardi gras, mi-careme, feria, fiesta, place of amusement, theater, hall, concert room, ballroom, assemblyroom, music hall, park, plaisance, national park, national forest, state park, county park, city park, vest-pocket park, public park (public), arbor, garden, pleasure ground, playground, cricketground, croquet ground, archery ground, hunting ground, tennis court, racket court, bowling alley, green alley, croquet lawn, rink, glaciarum, skating rink, roundabout, merry-go-round, swing, montagne Russe, game of chance, game of skill, athletic sports, gymnastics, archery, rifle shooting, tournament, pugilism, sports, horse racing, the turf, aquatics, skating, sliding, cricket, tennis, lawn tennis, hockey, football, baseball, soccer, ice hockey, basketball, rackets, fives, trap bat and ball, battledore and shuttlecock, la grace, pall- mall, tipcat, croquet, golf, curling, pallone, polo, water polo, tent pegging, tilting at the ring, quintain, greasy pole, quoits, horseshoes, discus, rounders, lacrosse, tobogganing, water polo, knurr and spell, leapfrog, hop skip and jump, mother may I, French and English, tug of war, blindman's bluff, hunt the slopper, hide and seek, kiss in the ring, snapdragon, cross questions and crooked answers, crisscross, hopscotch, jacks, jackstones, marbles, mumblety-peg, mumble-the-peg, pushball, shinney, shinny, tag, billiards, pool, pingpong, pyramids, bagatelle, bowls, skittles, ninepins, kain, American bowls, tenpins, tivoli, cards, card games, whist, rubber, round game, loo, cribbage, besique, euchre, drole, ecarte, picquet, allfours, quadrille, omber, reverse, Pope Joan, commit, boston, boaston, blackjack, twenty- one, vingtun, quinze, thirty-one, put, speculation, connections, brag, cassino, lottery, commerce, snip-snap-snoren, lift smoke, blind hookey, Polish bank, Earl of Coventry, Napoleon, patience, pairs, banker, blind poker, draw poker, straight poker, stud poker, bluff, bridge, bridge whist, lotto, monte, three-card monte, nap, penny-ante, poker, reversis, squeezers, old maid, fright, beggar-my- neighbor, baccarat, ace, king, queen, knave, jack, ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, trey, deuce, joker, trump, wild card, spades, hearts, clubs, diamonds, major suit, minor suit, bower, right bower, left bower, dummy, jackpot, deck, pair, two pair, three of a kind, straight, flush, full-house, four of a kind, royal flush, misere chess, draughts, checkers, checquers, backgammon, dominos, merelles, nine men's morris, go bang, solitaire, game of fox and goose, monopoly, loto, scrabble, scribbage, boggle, crossword puzzle, hangman, morra, gambling, toy, plaything, bauble, doll, teetotum, knickknack, magic lantern, peep show, puppet show, raree show, gallanty show, toy shop, quips and cranks and wanton wiles, nods and becks and wreathed smiles, entertainer, showman, showgirl, dancer, tap dancer, song-and-dance man, vaudeville act, singer, musician, sportsman, gamester, reveler, master of ceremonies, master of revels, pompom girl, arbiter elegantiarum, arbiter bibendi, archer, fan, toxophilite, turfman, amusing, entertaining, diverting, recreational, recreative, lusory, pleasant, laughable, witty, fun, festive, festal, jovial, jolly, jocund, roguish, rompish, playful, playful as a kitten, sportive, ludibrious, funny, very funny, hilarious, uproarious, side-splitting, amused, pleased with a rattle, tickled with a straw, laughing, risible, ready to burst, ready to split, ready to die with laughter, convulsed with laughter, rolling in the aisles, on the light fantastic toe, at play, in sport, Int, vive la bagatelle!, vogue la galere!, deus nobis haec otia fecit, dum vivimus vivamus, dulce est desipere in loco, (every room) hath blazed with lights and brayed wi, misce stullitiam consiliis brevem.Disrespect
N disrespect, disesteem, disestimation, disparagement irreverence, slight, neglect, spretae injuria formae, superciliousness, vilipendency, vilification, contumely, affront, dishonor, insult, indignity, outrage, discourtesy, practical joking, scurrility, scoffing, sibilance, hissing, sibilation, irrision, derision, mockery, irony, sarcasm, hiss, hoot, boo, gibe, flout, jeer, scoff, gleek, taunt, sneer, quip, fling, wipe, slap in the face, disrespectful, aweless, irreverent, disparaging, insulting, supercilious, contemptuous, patronizing, rude, derisive, sarcastic, scurrile, scurrilous, contumelious, unrespected, unworshiped, unenvied, unsaluted, unregarded, disregarded, disrespectfully.Propulsion
N propulsion, projection, propelment, vis a tergo, force from behind, push, shove, ejaculate, ejection, throw, fling, toss, shot, discharge, shy, launch, release, projectiles, ballistics, archery, propeller, screw, twin screws, turbine, jet engine, missile, projectile, ball, discus, quoit, brickbat, shot, arrow, gun, ballista, countdown, windup, shooter, shot, archer, toxophilite, bowman, rifleman, marksman, good shot, crack shot, sharpshooter, propelled, propelling, propulsive, projectile.VB propel, project, throw, fling, cast, pitch, chuck, toss, jerk, heave, shy, hurl, flirt, fillip, dart, lance, tilt, ejaculate, jaculate, fulminate, bolt, drive, sling, pitchfork, send, send off, let off, fire off, discharge, shoot, launch, release, send forth, let fly, put in orbit, send into orbit, launch into orbit dash, put in motion, set in motion, set agoing, start, give a start, give an impulse to, impel, trundle, expel, carry one off one's legs, put to flight.
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